Hey I am building a 27 Model T and I am running a 35 drop axle front end. I have been searching everywhere for a disk brake conversion kit, but all I can find is 37 and up. Does anyone know if i can still use the 35 spindle or if i have to change spindles in order to do brakes, or is there some modifying i can do? Please help, project stuck on hold until i can slap some wheels on.
I use '35-'36 spindles all the time. The thing is though, that I use drum brakes. Early Ford parts places have offered a simple 20.00 kit that adapts later hydraulic drums to the early spindles for about 70 years now. The difference is the '36 and earlier spindles have a smaller register for the drum or caliper mount to slide over, and the backing plate bolt pattern is smaller, and uses smaller bolts. You could probably have somebody machine an adapter ring for a commercially available caliper mount, then fill and re-drill the holes. But you aren't going to find any commercially available caliper mounts.
Thanks a lot, so it is do-able just better off to run drums rather than disk. Or else switch spindles
I don't care for lockheed brakes, but the inexpensive adapters might also allow using f100 or repo lincoln drum brakes. 37-41 spindles sure give more options.
ECI brakes may be able to help you out. They don't list discs for '35 spindles, but I would give them a call. He can likely make a kit or has done it in the past. http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com
MT Products makes a repro Lincoln backing plate that is a direct bolt on to your spindle. If you order the 1.75 inch shoes all you need is a spacer for the hub to run an early Ford drum. They also make hubs and drums for a 2 inch shoe. I have them on my 32 pickup and 32 roadster.
That's the answer I was looking for! I kinda thought they were doing something for these spindles, but wasn't sure. For the record, The F-100, Lincoln, Early ford, any of those can be adapted to '28-'36 spindles with the adapter kits I mentioned.
Thanks guys! I've been searching high and low for info and I was able to get an answer in no time from you guys!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/speedway-disc-brakes-for-1934-ford.687291/#post-11589461 Check post #11; looks like he tweaked the Speedway caliper mounts in a vice to move the mount holes closer to fit the pre '37 spindle, then used a juice brake kit bearing spacer before pressing on Speedway's bearing adapter. Interesting approach if for some reason you think your hot rod needs discs.
If you want disks you are not a traditionalist going for the "look". So give up the 35 spindle, find some 40's, and slap some commercially available kits on there. Don't make it more complex than it needs to be.
On the 29 roadsters LiL John ****era built he always used 32 thru 36 spindles because he liked the way they gave him 1/2 inch of extra lowness over the 37/40 spindles. He always used disc brakes but in the pictures I've seen it looks like he he tigged the caliper bracket on?
On a lightweight Model T discs are almost overkill. Drums would work just fine and there are many ways to skin that cat. '39-48 Ford Backing-plates require a a simple modification and the drums just require the aforementioned spacers to mount to any 1928-1936 Ford spindle. The earlier-mentioned MT products Lincoln-style backing plates are available as a bolt-on to your spindles, but would cost more money than the easily sourced '39-48 Ford backing plates. The drums will still require the bearing spacer. If you must have discs, swapping to '37-48 spindles, or their aftermarket equivalent, will alleviate all your guesswork. They are a direct swap onto your axle.
I checked their website, more than a little out of my budget. http://www.mtcarproducts.com/MODEL-A-KIT.html
^^^^ this ^^^^ The 35/36 spindles are really neat and do have the "look". Disc brakes on those early spindles doesn't make much sense when the 37 and later spindles take the commercially available made in China brake kits. You could sell or trade your early spindles easy. Personally, if I were doing a slick t bucket, I'd want to run the early spindles and drum brakes because it looks way better and works great on a t bucket. Maybe I'd go to something with a thinner solid rotor for discs but then I'd be making all the parts I need.
I just did this conversion on my 35 ford truck speedway sells the 37-41 spindle and king pin set that work great with theyre disc brake kit. Finished the whole set up in like 3 hours Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
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